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Atmospheric Chemistry (B-KUL-G0D01A)

3 ECTSEnglish20 First term
Loreau Jérôme
POC Chemie

Aims

Students should be familiar with the key concepts in atmospheric chemistry and should be able to carry out simple calculations needed in the field, and should have gained an appreciation of the challenges in the area. Students should understand the way the field relies on advanced analytical chemistry including remote sensing techniques, on laboratory measurements of key properties for atmospherically important molecules, and on (computer) models of complex atmospheric processes. The students should have a good knowledge of the key features of tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry, including anthropogenic aspects.

Previous knowledge

This course may be followed by anyone who has completed courses on physical chemistry to Bachelor in Chemistry level (or equivalent).

Identical courses

This course is identical to the following courses:
H02I4A : Atmosfeerchemie (No longer offered this academic year)
G0I24A : Reactive Systems (No longer offered this academic year)

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

3 ects. Atmospheric Chemistry (B-KUL-G0D01a)

3 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture20 First term
Loreau Jérôme
POC Chemie

Content

The course will include lectures covering the following topics:

•           General chemical and physical properties of the atmosphere

•           Chemical analysis of the atmosphere: sampling, spectroscopy, remote sensing, satellite methods

•           Chemical transport within the atmosphere

•           Heat transport through the atmospheric system, including the greenhouse effect

•           Stratospheric chemistry including standard chemistry of ozone and ozone depletion

•           Tropospheric chemistry including the effect of pollutants (NOx, ozone, hydrocarbons)

•           Models of the atmosphere

•           Chemical kinetics concepts for atmospheric chemistry

Course material

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Seinfeld & Pandis, Wiley, 3rd edition 2016.

 Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry, Jacob, Princeton U. Press, 1999 (free pdf online at the author’s page, http://acmg.seas.harvard.edu/people/faculty/djj/book/.

 Atmospheric Chemistry, Holloway & Payne, Royal Soc. Chem. Press, 2010, also in the library.

 PDF files with the detailed content of lectures will be made available through Toledo.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Atmospheric Chemistry (B-KUL-G2D01a)

Type : Exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Written
Type of questions : Open questions, Closed questions
Learning material : Calculator

Explanation


Students will have several questions: one will be a problem, aimed at calculating a rate or a concentration based on relevant input, another will involve recall of a key set of concepts, another will involve discussion of atmospheric properties.

Each question will have an assigned mark with the overall mark obtained as the sum of individual marks.